2019 Chevrolet Equinox
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 302 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 14th highest complaint count among 21 Equinox model years with reports.
Of the 2019 reports, 22 involved a crash and 7 involved a fire. 9 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Power train, automatic transmissionOct 29, 2020
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.
Campaign 20V668000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, storage, tank assemblySep 19, 2019
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Equinox all-wheel drive vehicles. The fuel tanks may have been manufactured with an improperly sealed seam, possibly allowing fuel to leak along the seam near the fuel inlet.
A fuel leak in the presence of the ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began October 24, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-586-596-1733. GM's number for this recall is N192271870.
Campaign 19V667000 on NHTSA.gov
SeatsMar 7, 2019
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles. The rear-right seat may have insufficient welds on the head-restraint bracket.
In the event of a crash, the insufficient welds may result in an increased risk of injury for an occupant seated in the rear-right position.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear-right seatback frame, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192209550.
Campaign 19V184000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, disc, caliperAug 30, 2018
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.
Campaign 18V576000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
302 reports, newest first.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Mar 5, 2026
On multiple occasions my vehicle (2019 equinox LT) that I bought just over 30 days ago has falsely activated the forward collision feature and slammed on its own brakes followed by “service ESC” and “service brake assist” with traction control lights and stability control lights illuminating. Dealership has confirmed that 4 computer modules are out of date on programming/updates. This is a critical safety issue and I am unsure why it hasn’t been recalled as I have read multiple instances of this. Unfortunately because it has not it is a hefty repair bill. When this happened the last time before heading into the dealership, there was a vehicle behind me that could’ve rammed into my rear due to the sudden and excessive braking at highway speeds when I was pressing on the gas.
Electrical system, Feb 27, 2026
The instrument cluster and driver information center is completely blank, and none of the steering wheel controls are operating. Vehicle starts and runs normally, but no indication of speed, turn signals, headlights, gas level, etc.
Engine, Feb 20, 2026
Air filter box housing top came off. Loss of power. Found that screws are used instead of a latch system. They had been wrenched down after last oil change and cracked the screw housing which is plastic. Filter housing came loose allowed more air and dirt to come into the housing box. Loss of fuel economy.
Service brakes, Feb 10, 2026, crash
My wife and I were in our car driving on [XXX] on [XXX] at about 4:30 in the afternoon. I was about three car lengths behind the car in front of me and I was doing 30-32 miles per hour. The brake lights in front of me went to red and I immediately stepped on my brakes but my car would not stop nor slow down causing me to hit the person in front of me. It was a matter of seconds passing but when I hit the back of that car in front of me I had both feet on the brake pedal. My car would not stop. My wife was injured, the young lady that I hit hurt her leg and the back end of her car was destroyed. Our car was totaled. The vehicle is now in possession of AAA auto insurance where I was told the brakes would be looked in to. I will be placing a call to the General Motors customer service to lodge a complaint. There were no warning signs of any type prior to this accident. This car is a 2019 model with only 30,200 miles on it. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 6, 2026
This issue presents a serious safety concern. During the initial occurrence, the vehicle was unable to sustain highway speeds for extended periods (approximately 10 minutes or more). When coming to a stop, the vehicle would shake, rev unexpectedly, lose power, and shut off completely. During these events, the vehicle would not accelerate, creating a hazardous situation, especially in traffic. The condition has since worsened. The same symptoms now occur upon starting the vehicle and during the warm-up period, increasing the risk of sudden engine shutdown without warning. Additionally, a distinct “gulping” sound is coming from the rear of the vehicle, raising concern that the fuel system may be compromised. No diagnostic or pending fault codes are present, and the local dealership has been unable to identify the cause. The vehicle has fewer than 100,000 miles. Due to the unpredictable loss of power and engine shutdown, this issue poses an immediate safety risk to the driver, passengers, and surrounding motorists.
Seats, Feb 5, 2026
My 2019 Chevy Equinox, LT model has experienced issues where the seat will no longer recline. Seat that raises but won't recline is likely caused by a faulty seat control switch, a jammed recline actuator/gear, or a broken wire, rather than a blown fuse.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 5, 2026
A "Reduced Engine Power" warning in a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT usually indicates the car has entered "limp mode" to protect the engine, most commonly caused by a dirty/faulty throttle body, loose Charge Air Cooler (CAC) tube, or sensor issues (MAF/TPS). Common codes include P0299 (turbo underboost). When this occurs, I cannot utilize my remote starter. I purchased an Innova OBD2 Code Reader, connected it to the vehicle and this code P0299 populated. There has been a few times that the engine light would go off, then I was able to use the remote starter to start the engine.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 2, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving 80 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and failed to accelerate above 35 MPH. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the turbocharger had failed. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 25, 2026
Could smell gas, looked under car saw gas dripping on driveway, coming from area where fuel tank is located, looks like it is coming from top of tank. Gas seems to leak only when tank is full and the outside temperature is cold ,below 20 degrees.
Air bags, Jan 16, 2026, crash
The contact's boyfriend owns a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH and decelerating to 50 MPH to switch lanes, the vehicle drove over an icy road surface and spun. The contact attempted to turn the wheel and depressed the brake pedal; however, the vehicle crashed into the left guard rail, and the vehicle then crashed into the right guard rail and came to an abrupt stop. The contact stated that the vehicle sustained significant front-end damage. The air bags failed to deploy. Several warning lights were illuminated after the crash. The vehicle owner was occupying the front passenger's seat during the incident. A police report was filed. The tow truck driver transported both passengers of the vehicle to a gas station. Both the contact and her boyfriend were picked up from the gas station and were dropped to the residence by the brother of the vehicle owner. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The contact later had headaches, body soreness, and stiffness. The contact went to the Emergency room and was informed that she had sustained a sprained left rib, whiplash, and a concussion. The contact's boyfriend sustained a sore pinky. The contact stated that the insurance company was currently assessing the vehicle damage. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 99,500.
Seats, Other or unspecified, Jan 6, 2026
Ever since we’ve had the 2019 Chevrolet equinox which was purchased in 2019 from Capital Chevrolet in Montgomery, Alabama, the seats and the side mirrors both will not stay programmed. The dealership kept telling us there was nothing wrong and kept telling us how to program the seats and the side mirrors, per key fob. This was done over and over and still did not work. every time the vehicle is cut off and when the vehicle is re-entered we have to reset the side mirrors and seats every single time. The vehicle is no longer under warranty, but we were wondering if there would be any way to have it fixed free of charge. Or if you have any idea on what we can do to make the settings work properly. Please advise. I have listed below my email address, my cell phone, and my home number. Thanks, [XXX] [XXX] my email [XXX] cell [XXX] home INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Service brakes, Dec 27, 2025
Repaired a friend's vehicle that had a total brake failure. Vehicle only has 50k miles and no brake repair history. Blew all of the brake fluid out of the stainless braided line coming from master cylinder rear brake channel to abs module. Found the line coming from the front channel to master cylinder also starting to fray and come apart as well. Did not blow out yet. No evidence of brake lines rubbing on any components or that anything has been apart or touched before. Line looks to have failed from the inside out.
Other or unspecified, Dec 19, 2025
Symptoms started, changing gears while driving, delayed start at lights on a slant, stalled acceleration on interstate from slowspeed ——-took it in and they said the accumulator is bad and has likely messed up the transmission. They recommended a new transmission for $7000+. Researched and found many 2019s had been recalled for this issue, in 2022, but this one was not. I am wondering why it was not, because now I have a bad transmission at 150,000 miles. Why was this vin not recalled in 2022.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Dec 16, 2025, crash
The contact owned a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, when the vehicle in front stopped suddenly, the contact depressed the brake pedal, and the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The vehicle slowed down; however, it did not stop. The contact depressed the brake pedal twice, and the vehicle failed to respond and rear-ended the vehicle in front, where it came to a stop. The contact was unsure whether there was a warning light illuminated. All the air bags were deployed. A police report was filed. The contact sustained minor injuries that did not require medical attention. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location. The insurance company was notified, and the vehicle was declared a total loss. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V704000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). However, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Electrical system, Dec 12, 2025
In FMVSS 138, it says that the tire pressure monitoring system will warn drivers of under inflated tires. My TPMS system failed on my MY19 Chevrolet Equinox around 49,000 miles and no longer warns me of underinflated tires for all four tires. To fix it I would have to pay out of pocket costs starting at $732, per the dealership, on a safety critical system that should not fail at 6 years/49,000 miles. There is no recall issued after a check of my VIN. Since 1974, the OEM has had a responsibility to provide a free remedy for safety defects and noncompliance. In 2015, the free remedy was changed from 10 years to 15 years by the FAST Act.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Dec 11, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware of a fuel-like odor coming from the driver’s side of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the sealed seam had failed and the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000.
Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 20, 2025
Drove car down street and the car wouldn’t accelerate. Had towed to mechanic who found the direct injection high pressure fuel pump snapped off. When removed from vehicle they found broken bolt in cylinder head and the steel fuel line from pump to injector rail leaking fuel.
Engine, Nov 18, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the failure persisted. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the camshaft, resulting in damage to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 72,000.
Service brakes, Nov 3, 2025
The vaccum pump for the braking system exploded in the cam shaft. Check system brake assist came up on the dash. The power brakes were non operational making it incredibly difficult to stop and increasing the distance by at least double. This is a 'known' issue with chevrolet but they have chosen NOT to issue a recall.
Seats, Oct 29, 2025
In the 2019 equinox the power driver seat reclined completely on its own and will not sit back up. All other functions work on the seat.
Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 27, 2025
I had an issue starting the vehicle. Once it started the check engine light was lit. I stopped at the nearest Autozone for a diagnostic check and the code P00C6 registered for Fuel Pump. I had the vehicle checked by a mechanic and he explained to me this vehicle has (2) fuel pumps. One in the fuel tank and one on the engine, which is considered a high pressure fuel pump. That is where the failure is and the pump requires special tools to install. It is something they can not do and recommend the vehicle go to the dealer. Thank you for taking time to read this & be well.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 27, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the rear brakes. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the rear brake pads and rotors needed to be replaced. The contact completed the work himself. The contact recently took the vehicle the vehicle in for service at a dealer and was informed that the rear brakes and calipers would need to be replaced soon. The contact stated that the pads and rotors had been replaced approximately one year ago, and the vehicle was not driven daily. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V576000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 14, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed an abnormally loud sound. The accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to exceed 12 MPH. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the nearest mechanic, which was a Toyota dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed with a failed throttle body and a failed air cooler outlet tube. The contact was informed that the throttle body and the air outlet tube needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 52,827.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine, Oct 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at a slow speed, the brake pedal was depressed, and the brake pedal was extremely hard and tight. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to stop the vehicle because the vehicle was not being driven at a high speed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was diagnosed as CAM shaft failure, timing chain, and vacuum pump failure. The contact was informed that the CAM shaft, timing chain, and vacuum pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. In addition, the contact, who was an independent mechanic, stated that it was very important that the braking system operated independently. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 75,400.
Other or unspecified, Oct 7, 2025
Transmission is slipping when I accelerate the car is only 5 years old